A Teaching Routine for Academic Vocabulary in Grades PreK-1 (REL West)

Introduction to Vocabulary Instruction

  • Educators often omit complex vocabulary when teaching young children, especially English language learners.

  • However, children can learn complex vocabulary with appropriate support and scaffolding.

  • The video presents a three-step routine for introducing new academic vocabulary to PreK and first-grade students, based on evidence-based recommendations.

Three-Step Teaching Routine

Step 1: Introduce the New Word

  • Select a word from previously read text.

  • Use a student-friendly definition to explain the word.

  • Example: The teacher introduces the word "provide," explaining it means to give or take care of something.

    • Visual Examples:

      • Show images that relate to the word.

      • Example images:

        • A pig providing milk to its babies.

        • A river providing clean water to a city.

        • A wolf finding safety in its den.

Step 2: Engage Students in Meaningful Use

  • Provide opportunities for students to use the word in context.

  • Use a sentence frame for guided practice: "My parents provide me with ___, so that ___."

  • Allow students to think and share examples with a partner, enhancing their understanding.

  • The teacher models examples such as:

    • "My parents provide me with food, so that I can stay healthy."

Step 3: Check for Understanding

  • Use examples to help students determine if they relate to the word.

  • Example activity: Teacher presents scenarios and students respond with "provide" or "not provide."

    • Example scenarios:

      • "My mom makes me breakfast every day before I go to school." (Students say "provide")

      • "My brother steals my toys." (Students say "not provide")

  • Encourage students to share the new word with family and friends.

Additional Techniques

  • Gestures can reinforce word meanings. (e.g., pretending to give a gift for "provide")

  • Use repetition to help students become comfortable using new words, a technique referred to as "miles on the tongue."

Conclusion

  • The routine includes:

    1. Introducing the word with a clear definition.

    2. Providing opportunities for meaningful use through sentence frames.

    3. Checking for understanding and encouraging independent use.

  • These steps help build confidence in vocabulary usage, especially for English learners.